Frequently Asked Questions
CLEP and taking CLEP tests at Inver Hills Community College

What is CLEP?

CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) is a nationally recognized standardized form of testing for students who wish to obtain credit for what they know. There are two types of CLEP exams: general exams and specific subject exams. CLEP examinations are recommended only for students with advanced knowledge in subject fields not usually acquired in typical high school curricula.

When and where does Inver Hills administer the CLEP exams?

The Inver Hills Testing Center will administer the CLEP exams Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. The last exam will be started at 7:00 pm. (Hours are subject to change). The Inver Hills Testing Center is located in the Library Building and parking is available in the Liberal Arts parking Lot. 

How do I register for an exam?

The application is available on the Inver Hills website at www.inverhills.edu. In order to take a CLEP exam, you need to return the completed application form and a $20 (non-refundable) service fee for each exam to the Inver Hills Testing Center. You may drop the application off in person or mail it to 

Inver Hills Community College
CLEP Testing - Testing Center
2500 East 80th Street
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Applications must be received two weeks prior to the date of the exam. You will receive confirmation of your testing date by e-mail or phone.

How much does it cost to take the CLEP exam and how do I pay?

Charges for the exams include a $20 (non-refundable) service fee and, a $65 exam fee for each CLEP exam taken. Effective July 1, 2008, the charge will be $70 for each CLEP exam taken.

The service fee may be paid to Inver Hills by cash, check, or money order and is due when your application form is submitted to the testing center. 

A CLEP exam fee of 65 per test ($70 after July 1, 2008) is due the day of the exam and can be paid by check made out to CLEP or by credit card on-line before you start the exam. CLEP accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Debit cards will not be accepted. You must indicate on your application which form of payment you plan to use. All fees have to be paid before you can begin the exam. 

How many exams may I take at one session?

You may take up to two exams in a session. Each exam is approximately 90 minutes in length. It is suggested that two hours be set aside for each exam, including check-in and completion of registration. A separate application must be completed for each exam.

How much credit can I earn by passing a CLEP exam?

Although CLEP is a national testing program, the number of credits you receive for a passing score depends on the institution to which you are reporting the scores.

You will not be able to earn CLEP credit in subject areas for which credit has already been earned at an accredited institution. Before registering for CLEP exams, check with the registrar at the school to which you want to transfer your CLEP scores.

Inver Hills awards six semester credits for each General exam: English Composition with Essay, Humanities, Social Science, History, Mathematics, and Natural Science and up to twenty semester credit hours for each subject exam. The Inver Hills list of minimum acceptable scores for earning credit are posted on the Inver Hills web site.

Credits earned through CLEP exams are not counted as resident credits at Inver Hills and may not be used to satisfy the resident credit requirement for graduation. Inver Hills has a residency requirement of 20 Inver Hills credits or 9 Inver Hills credits and 11 credits from another MnSCU institution. Because of this requirement, Inver Hills will accept a maximum of 40 credits from other sources, including CLEP, for an Associate Degree.

How will I find out my score?

Official test scores will be displayed on the computer screen after you complete your test. The test administrator will print the score for you. If an essay exam is taken, you will not be able to obtain the essay score the day the exam is taken. CLEP will mail you a copy of your score.

On the exam day, you can request that an official transcript of your score be sent to a college or university by filling in question 26 at the time you log on for the exam. The College Board will mail the report directly to the designated institution within approximately two weeks. After the exam day, you may order an official transcript to be sent to the institution of your choice by using the transcript order form at the bottom of your score print-out. CLEP charges a $15.00 fee for this service.

What study materials are available? 

Books describing the CLEP exams and examples of CLEP exam questions are available in public libraries and area bookstores (including Inver Hills). “The Official Study Guide for CLEP Exams,” available by mail, contains descriptions of all CLEP exams, sample questions, answers, test-taking strategies, and general information about credit by exam. Please refer to page two of the CLEP brochure for ordering information.

Reminders for the exam day:

· Click on the link http://www.inverhills.edu/Maps/directions.htm to get directions to Inver Hills.

· On your exam date, park in the Liberal Arts parking lot and come to the Inver Hills Testing Center in the Library Building. Bring your government issued photo ID. You will not be allowed to take the exam without a picture ID. If you are taking a language exam, bring your own audio headsets. It is recommended that you arrive early for the exam appointment.

· Voluntary “TEST QUIT”: if you decide to quit the test voluntarily, there will not be a refund of the test fee; you must also wait six months before retesting in the same subject.

· Students are not allowed to use calculators, cell phones, or beepers or to chew gum during testing. Books, papers, purses, and other materials may not be brought into the exam room. Lockers are provided; please bring a quarter for locker rental. The college is not responsible for personal items. 

· Please note there are no breaks during exams unless you had to fill out question 15 on the application. 

For current exam times and dates, you may call 651/554-3751 twenty-four hours a day. For further information, please e-mail btessie@inverhills.edu.

Updated 12/15/04